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Apr 29, 2014

Aya Cabauatan's photographyis gorgeous in one word. This teenager's subjects are simply her group of pals it appears, but her work celebrates the lightness of being, most of her photographs glow like surreal.

... are images that contain within themselves "a living moment that allows a glimpse of time to be experienced and preserved endlessly." I LOVE this breezy animated skirt by Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck. Follow the link for more!(3) Illustrated Book

This is the cutest I've ever seen, haha!BIRD BEAK BOOK by Oscar Bolton Green. "His immediate, essential style, with its patches of colour and clarity of line, shows how tiny hummingbirds stretch into the flowers to draw out the nectar and how graceful flamingo dips its spoon-shaped beak beneath the surface of the water."

I think having a toddler at home makes me listen keenly to the sound of say, a cuckoo, just to point it out to him and do a cuckoo call together! :-) And this "birdie" book totally sings to me.

Apr 27, 2014

Are you the kind of traveller who loves a dive into the art and crafts scene of any place you go to? I mean, get down to the raw materials, watching artisans create from scratch, learning ancient techniques of say, weaving, craft making, watching experienced hands at work creating magic with their fingers.

Sure a few of you must have gone with some of these tour planners in India. If you haven't, here is a list you must check out.

Kutch, Guajarat has to be first (on my list), a destination already quite popular among art and textile lovers. And I'd let Mumbai-based Neha Gandhi of Matsya Crafts take me on an unhurried, customized journey to the craftsmen of rural Gujarat.

A Textile Trail in Kanchipuram by Breakaway
I think all die-hard Kanchipuram saree lovers must do this to know where your "temple borders, checks, stripes and floral buttas" are coming from. Visit the traditional looms to see how your kanchipuram saree gets woven from raw materials sourced from all parts of the country.

A 12 day tour by Prior Knowledge, started by David Prior. This is "a membership-based ‘travel society’ – a luxury service with a not-for-profit arm, focusing on truly unique travel experiences that highlight and preserve culture, rather than exploit it."

The Crafts and Textiles of Kolkata and West Bengal(for the longer vacay-goers 11 Days/10 Nights) by Lost and Found Travel
Visit weaver villages around Kolkata known for their silk and cotton hand woven saris, dhotis, jacquards and jamdanis. They promise explorations of silk farming, cork carving, textile villages around Shantiniketan, a community workshop for embossed leather goods, and much more. I'm on!

Legends of Lucknow: A Craft & Textile Exploration by Breakaway
I'll let the words on the website speak "Drape yourself in the stories that make chikan so delightful to wear. Let the divine fragrances of ittar transport you to the heavens. Allow the traditions of naqqashi to delicately engrave their way into your heart." And indulge in "Ganjing" - this is a term used to describe ambling and shopping in the wide lanes and by lanes of city's Ganj market."

Visiting the Looms in Tamil Nadu by Breakaway
A journey to Tamil Nadu's vibrant and time-tested expertise in textiles through Kalakshetra (Chennai), Kanchipuram, Auroville (Pondicherry), Karaikudi, Gandhigram, and Madurai.

Bagru Block Printing Workshop, in Bagru, Rajasthan by Vedic Walks
This one is for the one's pressed for time. Gives you half a day with the bagru artists in their workshop.

Painted Histories - Rajasthan by Breakaway
This is the most intriguing one, I'd love to go for. It lets you peak into lesser known art forms, their creators and cultures - miniature art, Bundi style of painting, Kotah style, the Kishangarh style and so on.

A Brush with Nilgiris by Breakaway
Which sounds indeed a "brush" with the Nilgiris where photographer, painter, traveler Mukesh Munim offers 2/3-day workshops in photography and painting (oils, acrylics, pastels). This tour also
offers stay at a farm "at the Khans' whose 22-acre property is a naturalists haven and who have also turned cheesemaking into a fine art". This is an ideal one for artists and art lovers who want to create in the lap of nature.

I want to pack up my bags and go NOW! A textile or craft tour to remote villages of India is one of the best vacation ideas for me! How about you? Have you tried any of these tours or tour planners, do you have any reviews?

Apr 24, 2014

First... I am no "successful" artist or "marketing guru" to give you Art Marketing tips ;-) But as a passionate art lover and artist, I superimposed some marketing-basics over my observations of several creatives who work wonders in their niches, to put some thoughts together.

In the post, I have also picked five artists who have a rocking product AND market their work smartly on social media. Do you have any such creative entrepreneur role models? What are your thoughts on the importance of social media for creatives?

And in case you missed the first two guest posts: they were easy DIYs which you could take a shot at:

Apr 22, 2014

... said Paul Klee, the Swiss painter whose artwork was surreal and expressionist. TheEconomist had one of the best write-ups on this artist, so I'll let you read that and won't say more.Do you want to let your journal page do the talking? Go here, and click on the blue button at the bottom of the post.+ Please read the guidelines when you enter your link. You could visit the earlier prompts and the creative pages linked up so far, and meet-n-greet some journalers.

So to test what Paul Klee said, I let my pen go for a walk and spread some blueberry cheer around :-)

Also,In case you hadn't checked back on my representation of last week's prompt LEAF, go here.

+ If you would like to get weekly art journal prompts and/or updates on my artwork-for-sale delivered straight to your inbox, do send me an email.

Apr 21, 2014

You ought not to miss the action at the Bespoke Magazine - a quarterly publication "jam-packed with crafty projects, handmade products, artisan interviews, indie business inspiration and tips, and an abundance of creative inspiration. The magazine is primarily for and by the creative and handmade community, and is "designed to delight and inspire the international creative community." The Bespoke blog is also loaded with creative content - tips for business owners, DIYs, etc.

Why am I excited?

I am guest blogging at Bespoke this entire week.

Today's post is a smart wood-block art DIY that you can try out too. How do you transform plain-Jane wood blocks into a piece of art in seven easy steps?

Here is a glimpse...

Please go over to the post on Bespokezine to read in detail and see the process. Do tell me if you have done any wood block artwork, would love to see yours too.

Apr 1, 2014

I realized from last week's prompt, that all of you who have a method in your madness love being surrounded by an artistic mess! Thanks to all who linked up and commented on what your dream workspace would be like.

+ Also, watch out for a regular series on a "groovy trio" ;-) every other week starting tomorrow.
+ And a miss-not list of resources for artist entrepreneurs, coming up very soon.

And now back to prompt #4 for the week 31st Mar - 6th Apr... I'm waiting to see your representations of

One place in your travel bucket-list

There are only about a 100 years we can be on the earth, and only a million places to go to, sigh. A travel list is something that can get anyone dreamy-eyed and passionate.

Peru (of the Incas) on my wishlist now! Here is my mixed media journal page of a few things Peruvian that has captured my imagination - the alpaca, the Inca rope bridge, the Peruvian man with a traditional headgear, a colorful wall and door, the rings of Morray an old Incan agri site.

Which place are you wander-lusting after? Do comment below or Link up your page Here.